--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems to me more important actually to…" description: "\"It seems to me more important actually to share someones distress than to use smooth words about it.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_distress_it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-t_380779.jpg" --- # It seems to me more important actually to share someones… ![“It seems to me more important actually to share someones distress than to use smooth words about it.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_distress_it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-t_380779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_distress_it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-t_380779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_distress_it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-t_380779.jpg) > “It seems to me more important actually to share someones distress than to use smooth words about it.” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sharing another’s pain is more valuable than offering polished words. **In simple terms:** Empathy beats empty reassurance. Key Takeaway Prioritize genuine listening. Themes empathy authenticity compassion Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - conflict resolution - support groups Key Concepts ethical communication human suffering Questions to Reflect On - When have you offered empty words? - How can you better listen to others? A Different Perspective Listening may be uncomfortable and reveal personal pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/) [Distress Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress-use-3454036/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-actually-2638210/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Smooth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smooth/) [Smooth Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smooth-words-1903821/) [Someones Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someones-distress-3454035/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [Keep thy smooth words and juggling homilies for those who know thee not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/keep-thy-smooth-words-and-juggling-homilies-for-those-who-know-thee/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Euthanasia is a long, smooth-sounding word, and it conceals its danger as long, smooth words do, but the danger is there, nevertheless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/euthanasia-is-a-long-smooth-sounding-word-and-it-conceals-its-danger/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [ Smooth words in place of gifts. \[Lat., Dicta docta pro datis.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/smooth-words-in-place-of-gifts-lat-dicta-docta-pro-datis/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Love fattens on smooth words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/love-fattens-on-smooth-words/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [“Pretty Words" Poets make pets of pretty, docile words: I love smooth words, like gold-enamelled fish Which circle slowly with a silken swish, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-wylie/pretty-words-poets-make-pets-of-pretty-docile-words-i-love-smooth/) [Elinor Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-wylie/) > [“Where you see yourself is more important than where you actually are!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/where-you-see-yourself-is-more-important-than-where-you-actually-are/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I think that it's incredibly important that we're actually paying attention to the feminism that's going on on the ground in different countries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-think-that-it-s-incredibly-important-that-we-re-actually-paying/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [You don't know who is important to you until you actually lose them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/you-don-t-know-who-is-important-to-you-until-you-actually-lose-them/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Don't let some random comment that you wouldn't have even thought about overshadow something important that you were actually trying to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/don-t-let-some-random-comment-that-you-wouldn-t-have-even-thought/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [The acting stuff is more important to me than actually being a big star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bautista/the-acting-stuff-is-more-important-to-me-than-actually-being-a-big/) [Dave Bautista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bautista/) > [But having a really good understanding of history, literature, psychology, sciences - is very, very important to actually being able to make movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/but-having-a-really-good-understanding-of-history-literature/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [We are taught these days that being famous is more important than actually doing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howard/we-are-taught-these-days-that-being-famous-is-more-important-than/) [Ben Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howard/) > [Some other memories of the funeral have stuck in my mind. The old boy’s face, for instance, when he caught up with us for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/some-other-memories-of-the-funeral-have-stuck-in-my-mind-the-old-boy/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [That toil of growing up; The ignominy of boyhood; the distress Of boyhood changing into man; The unfinished man and his pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/that-toil-of-growing-up-the-ignominy-of-boyhood-the-distress-of/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Distress quotes > [That toil of growing up; The ignominy of boyhood; the distress Of boyhood changing into man; The unfinished man and his pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/that-toil-of-growing-up-the-ignominy-of-boyhood-the-distress-of/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [“When children are hurt and in pain psychologically, they don't want to be in distress, so when the situation becomes intolerable, they cease to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-firestone/when-children-are-hurt-and-in-pain-psychologically-they-don-t-want-to/) [Robert W. Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-firestone/) > [Soothing touch, whether it be applied to a ruffled cat, a crying infant, or a frightened child, has a universally recognized power to ameliorate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deane-juhan/soothing-touch-whether-it-be-applied-to-a-ruffled-cat-a-crying-infant/) [Deane Juhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deane-juhan/) > [When we are in distress we pray genuinely, seeking forgiveness, promise to quit all sin & beg for mercy & protection. Why do we then forget?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-are-in-distress-we-pray-genuinely-seeking-forgiveness-promise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Want to talk third wave feminism, you could cite Ariel Levy and the idea that women have internalized male oppression. Going to spring break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/want-to-talk-third-wave-feminism-you-could-cite-ariel-levy-and-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [It was right then and there that she'd realized there was no quota on misery for people, no quantifiable threshold that once reached, got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/it-was-right-then-and-there-that-she-d-realized-there-was-no-quota-on/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/you-pray-in-your-distress-and-in-your-need-would-that-you-might-also/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [This isn't a romance. You're not a damsel in distress and I'm not the handsome prince come to save you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-roberts/this-isn-t-a-romance-you-re-not-a-damsel-in-distress-and-i-m-not-the/) [CJ Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cj-roberts/) > [“Ivy waved the wet handkerchief, as much as to say, words cannot possibly articulate my profound distress. Then, because Ivy never settled for meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/ivy-waved-the-wet-handkerchief-as-much-as-to-say-words-cannot/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [They have stolen the public lands. They have grasped all to themselves, and by their unprincipled greed brought a crisis of unparalleled distress on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/they-have-stolen-the-public-lands-they-have-grasped-all-to-themselves/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy with his fellows in distress, but, though he be the holiest son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-believe-that-what-so-saddens-the-reformer-is-not-his-sympathy-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Patience will benefit you in every hour, every time and every opportunity. It helps you to overcome your opponent, howsoever strong he may be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abd-al-karim-qasim/patience-will-benefit-you-in-every-hour-every-time-and-every/) [Abd al-Karim Qasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abd-al-karim-qasim/) > [Grief that is dazed and speechless is out of fashion: the modern woman mourns her husband loudly and tells you the whole story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/grief-that-is-dazed-and-speechless-is-out-of-fashion-the-modern-woman/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) [Browse all 686 Distress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It seems to me more important actually to share someones distress than to use smooth words about it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-to-share-someones-distress/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-to-share-someones-distress/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_distress_it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-t_380779.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_distress_it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-t_380779.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d60/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_distress_it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-t_380779.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It seems to me more important actually to share someones distress than to use smooth words about it.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It seems to me more important...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-to-share-someones-distress/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/it-seems-to-me-more-important-actually-to-share-someones-distress/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```